Capacitive touch screen

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of a capacitive touch screen may comprise a display device comprising a substantially transparent substrate, a first plurality of electrodes attached to the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in a first direction, and a second plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second plurality of electrodes is capacitively coupled with each of the first plurality of electrodes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/445,747, filed Apr. 12, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/413,580, filed Mar. 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No.8,174,510, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventional computing devices provide several ways for enabling a userto interact with them. For example, a user may utilize a capacitivetouch screen device to interact with a computing device. It is pointedout that there are varying capacitive sensing technologies that are usedin conjunction with conventional touch screen devices. However, thediffering capacitive sensing technologies may include one or moreoptical issues that degrade the viewing pleasure of the touch screenuser.

SUMMARY

One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a capacitivetouch screen. The capacitive touch screen includes a substantiallytransparent substrate and a plurality of electrodes formed on thesubstantially transparent substrate. The plurality of electrodes aresubstantially parallel in a first direction and each of the plurality ofelectrodes includes a layer of light altering material. Additionally,each of the plurality of electrodes is for aligning with a gap or maskbetween pixels of a display device.

While a particular embodiment in accordance with the invention has beenspecifically described within this Summary, it is noted that theinvention and the claimed subject matter are not limited in any way bythis embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary two-dimensional capacitive touchscreen device that can be implemented to include one or more embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a side sectional view of an exemplary crossing of electrodesin accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a plan sectional view of exemplary display device pixels inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2C is a side sectional view of an exemplary display device inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2D is a side sectional view of another exemplary display device inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another exemplary capacitive sensor pattern inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of yet another exemplary capacitive sensor patternin accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another exemplary capacitive sensorpattern in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another exemplary capacitive sensor pattern inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another exemplary capacitive sensor patternin accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another exemplary capacitive sensor pattern inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of still another exemplary capacitive sensorpattern in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of another exemplary capacitive sensor pattern inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11A is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11B is a side sectional view of additional exemplary depositing inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11C is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of another exemplary method in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12A is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12B is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12C is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12D is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of yet another exemplary method in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13A is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13B is a side sectional view of additional exemplary depositing inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13C is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of still another exemplary method inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14A is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14B is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14C is a side sectional view of exemplary depositing in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14D is a side sectional view of exemplary operations in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments inaccordance with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While the invention will be described inconjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood that thesevarious embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. On thecontrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modificationsand equivalents, which may be included within the scope of the inventionas construed according to the Claims. Furthermore, in the followingdetailed description of various embodiments in accordance with theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be evident toone of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well known methods,procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detailas not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary two-dimensional capacitive touchscreen device 100 that can be implemented to include one or moreembodiments of the invention. It is noted that the two-dimensionalcapacitive touch screen device 100 can be utilized to communicate userinput (e.g., via a user's finger or probe) to a computing device orother electronic device. The two-dimensional capacitive touch screendevice 100 can be placed over or directly patterned upon a displaydevice (not shown), e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasmadisplay, a cathode ray tube (CRT), an organic light emitting diode(OLED) display, and the like. As such, a user would view the display bylooking through the substantially transparent sensing region 104 of thecapacitive touch screen device 100 as shown. Note that one or moreembodiments in accordance with the invention can be incorporated withthe capacitive touch screen device 100.

In one embodiment, the capacitive touch screen device 100 can include asubstantially transparent substrate 102 which can be implemented in awide variety of ways. For example, the substantially transparentsubstrate 102 can be implemented using, but is not limited to, glass,plastic, and the like. The substantially transparent substrate 102 mayalso be a part of the display device (e.g., LCD, plasma, CRT, OLED, andthe like). In an embodiment, a controller circuitry 110 can be coupledto the sensor electrodes formed on or within the substantiallytransparent substrate 102 via a first group of conductive wires (orelectrical conductors) 106 and a second group of conductive wires (orelectrical conductors) 108. It is noted that the conductors 106 and/or108 can be utilized for coupling the controller circuitry 110 with anyelectrodes or wires (not shown) that form a sensor region 104(represented by the dashed line enclosure) of the capacitive touchscreen device 100. In this fashion, the capacitive touch screen device100 is able to operate. Each of the groups of conductive wires 106 and108 can include one or more conductive wires or electrical conductors.It is pointed out that embodiments of electrodes (or wires) inaccordance with the invention are described herein which can form thesensor region 104 of the two-dimensional capacitive touch screen device100.

It is noted that the capacitive touch screen device 100 may not includeall of the elements illustrated by FIG. 1. Additionally, the capacitivetouch screen device 100 can be implemented to include one or moreelements not illustrated by FIG. 1. It is pointed out that thecapacitive touch screen device 100 can be utilized or implemented in anymanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 200 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 200 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes or wires 202 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the Y-axis) that are substantially parallel and a pluralityof vertical electrodes or wires 204 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. In oneembodiment, the electrodes 202 are approximately orthogonal (orperpendicular) to electrodes 204, and vice versa. It is pointed out thatthe electrodes 202 are not electrically connected to electrodes 204, andwhere they cross each other are insulated by a dielectric separator, butare not limited to such. Note that the crossing of electrodes 202 and204 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in oneembodiment, FIG. 2A is a side sectional view of an exemplary crossing ofan electrode 202 a and an electrode 204 a. Note that the electrode 202 ais electrically insulated from the electrode 204 a by an insulatedmaterial layer 205. FIG. 2A also illustrates that each of the electrodes202 a and 204 a can include one or more layers or coatings of lightaltering material 203 (e.g., an anti-reflective material or a lightabsorbing material) in order to reduce the visibility of the electrodes202 a and 204 a. It is noted that in embodiments where the lightaltering material 203 is also non-conductive (e.g., an insulator), itmay serve as the dielectric separator/insulated material and layer 205may not be present.

Note that the electrodes 202 and 204 of the capacitive sensor pattern200 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, each ofthe electrodes 202 and 204 can be formed or manufactured from one ormore metals, such as, copper, aluminum, chromium, gold, silver, and tin,but is not limited to such and may be other conductive materials (e.g.,carbon). Moreover, note that each of the electrodes 202 and 204 can beformed or manufactured to also include one or more layers or coatings oflight altering material (e.g., an anti-reflective material or a lightabsorbing material) in order to reduce the visibility of the electrodes202 and 204 to a user of the capacitive touch screen device 100.Furthermore, the anti-reflective material can be implemented in a widevariety of ways. For example, the anti-reflective material can include,but is not limited to, a dielectric, silicon oxide, silicon nitride,polymer, glue, and the like. In one embodiment, if the anti-reflectivematerial is a dielectric material, the following conditions may befollowed: the refractive index of the dielectric layer or coating can beapproximately equal to the square root of the refractive index of theunderlying material; and the thickness of the dielectric layer orcoating can be approximately a quarter wavelength of the incident light,e.g., 200-300 nanometers, but is not limited to such. In addition, theanti-reflective material coating can consist of several dielectriclayers with alternating dielectric constants. The light absorbingmaterial can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, thelight absorbing material can include, but is not limited to, visiblelight absorbing photo resist material, metal oxide, or carbon black. Inone embodiment, each of the electrodes 202 and 204 has a width of lessthan or equal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is not limited tosuch.

It is pointed out that the electrodes 202 in FIG. 2 are spaced in asubstantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such. Additionally,the electrodes 204 are also spaced in a substantially uniform manner,but are not limited to such. In one embodiment, when the capacitivetouch screen device 100 that includes the capacitive sensor pattern 200is placed over or integrated as part of a display device, each of theelectrodes 202 and 204 can be aligned with, within, or positioned over agap or mask between pixels of the display device, thereby furtherreducing the visibility of the electrodes 202 and 204 to a user. Forexample, FIG. 2B is a plan sectional view of an exemplary array ofpixels 212 of a display device in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. In one embodiment, the display device can include one or morepixel masks 215 that prevent the emission of visible light from thespaces or gaps located between the pixels 212. In this manner, the pixelmask 215 defines the pixels 212 of the display device. As noted, thereare gaps located between the pixels 212 of the display device wherevisible light is not emitted. For example, gap 214 indicates one ofmultiple gaps that extend between the pixels 212 in the verticaldirection while gap 216 indicates one of multiple gaps that extendbetween the pixels 212 in the horizontal direction. As such, each of theelectrodes 202 (FIG. 2) can be aligned within or positioned over a gapsimilar to gap 216 (FIG. 2B) while each of the electrodes 204 can bealigned within or positioned over a gap similar to gap 214, therebyfurther reducing the visibility of the electrodes 202 and 204 to a user.Moreover, each of the electrodes 202 and 204 (FIG. 2) can be alignedwithin or positioned over the mask 215 (FIG. 2B) located between thepixels 212 of the display device, thereby further reducing thevisibility of the electrodes 202 and 204 to a user. In one embodiment,FIG. 2C is a side sectional view of electrodes 204 as formed on thesubstantially transparent substrate 102 aligned with the gaps 214 andthe mask 215 located between the pixels 212 of the display device andpositioned above the upper substrate 218 of the display device. In oneembodiment, FIG. 2D is a side sectional view of electrodes 204 as formedon the top surface of the display device, which is the top surface ofthe substantially transparent substrate 102. Note that the electrodes204 are aligned with the gaps 214 and the mask 215 located between thepixels 212 of the display device.

Within FIG. 2, note that the electrodes 202 and 204 can be coupled tothe controller circuitry 110 in a wide variety of ways. For example inone embodiment, each of the electrodes 202 can be connectedindependently to the controller circuitry 110 via the conductive wires108, but is not limited to such. Additionally, in one embodiment, eachof the electrodes 204 can be connected independently to the controllercircuitry 110 via the conductive wires 106, but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 200 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 2. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 200 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 2. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 200 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 300 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. It is pointed outthat the elements of FIG. 3 having the same reference numbers as theelements of any other figure herein can operate or function in anymanner similar to that described herein, but are not limited to such.Note that the capacitive sensor pattern 300 can include, but is notlimited to, a plurality of horizontal electrodes or wires 202′ (e.g.,which allow sensing of position in the Y-axis) that are substantiallyparallel and a plurality of vertical electrodes or wires 204′ (e.g.,which allow sensing of position in the X-axis) that are substantiallyparallel. It is pointed out that the electrodes 202′ and 204′ can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the electrodes 202′ can be coupledtogether. For instance in the present embodiment, the electrodes 202′include four different subsets 302, 304, 306 and 308 of electrodes thatare coupled together, but is not limited to such. Furthermore, in oneembodiment, one or more subsets of the electrodes 204′ can be coupledtogether. For example in the present embodiment, the electrodes 204′include seven different subsets 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320 and 322 ofelectrodes that are coupled together, but is not limited to such. In oneembodiment, each of the electrodes 202′ and 204′ has a width of lessthan or equal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is not limited tosuch. It is pointed out that the subsets 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312,314, 316, 318, 320 and 322 can each be implemented to include the sameor different number of sensor elements. For example, subset 302 includesfive sensor elements while subsets 304, 306 and 308 each include foursensor elements, but are not limited to such. In addition, subset 322includes four sensor elements while subsets 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 and320 each includes three sensor elements, but are not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 300 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 3. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 300 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 3. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 300 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 400 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 400 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes or wires 402 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the Y-axis) that are substantially parallel and a pluralityof vertical electrodes or wires 404 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. It is pointedout that the electrodes 402 are not electrically connected to electrodes404, and where they cross each other are insulated by a dielectricseparator, but are not limited to such. In one embodiment, theelectrodes 402 are approximately orthogonal (or perpendicular) toelectrodes 404, and vice versa. Note that the electrodes 402 and 404 canbe implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,each of the electrodes 402 and 404 can be formed or manufactured fromone or more metals, such as, copper, aluminum, chromium, gold, silver,and tin, but is not limited to such and may be other conductivematerials (e.g., carbon). Additionally, each of the electrodes 402 and404 can be formed or manufactured to also include one or more layers orcoatings of light altering material (e.g., an anti-reflective materialor a light absorbing material) in order to reduce the visibility of theelectrodes 402 and 404 to a user of the capacitive touch screen device100. The anti-reflective material can be implemented in a wide varietyof ways. For example, the anti-reflective material can include, but isnot limited to, a dielectric, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, polymer,glue, and the like. Furthermore, the light absorbing material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,the light absorbing material can include, but is not limited to, visiblelight absorbing photo resist material, metal oxide, or carbon black. Inone embodiment, each of the electrodes 402 and 404 has a width of lessthan or equal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is not limited tosuch.

Within the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, each of the electrodes 402 isspaced in an aperiodic manner, but is not limited to such. That is, eachof the electrodes 402 is located at a pseudo random interval (e.g.,non-periodic) in order to break up the periodicity of the electrodes 402and prevent a user from seeing interference patterns. In addition, eachof the electrodes 404 is located at a pseudo random interval oraperiodic manner in order to break up the periodicity of the electrodes404 and prevent a user from seeing interference patterns, but is notlimited to such. In one embodiment, when the capacitive touch screendevice 100 that includes the capacitive sensor pattern 400 is placedover or integrated as part of a display device, each of the electrodes402 and 404 can be aligned within or positioned over a gap or maskbetween pixels of the display device, thereby further reducing thevisibility of the electrodes 402 and 404 to a user. It is noted that theelectrodes 402 and 404 can be coupled to the controller circuitry 110 ina wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment, each of theelectrodes 402 can be connected independently to the controllercircuitry 110 via the conductive wires 108, but is not limited to such.Furthermore, in one embodiment, each of the electrodes 404 can beconnected independently to the controller circuitry 110 via theconductive wires 106, but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 400 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 4. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 400 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 4. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 400 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 500 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. It is pointed outthat the elements of FIG. 5 having the same reference numbers as theelements of any other figure herein can operate or function in anymanner similar to that described herein, but are not limited to such.Note that the capacitive sensor pattern 500 can include, but is notlimited to, a plurality of horizontal electrodes or wires 402′ (e.g.,which allow sensing of position in the Y-axis) that are substantiallyparallel and a plurality of vertical electrodes or wires 404′ (e.g.,which allow sensing of position in the X-axis) that are substantiallyparallel. It is noted that the electrodes 402′ and 404′ can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the electrodes 402′ can be coupledtogether. For instance in the present embodiment, the electrodes 402′include six different subsets 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 and 512 ofelectrodes that are coupled together, but is not limited to such. Inaddition, in one embodiment, one or more subsets of the electrodes 404′can be coupled together. For example in the present embodiment, theelectrodes 404′ include seven different subsets 514, 516, 518, 520, 522,524 and 526 of electrodes that are coupled together, but is not limitedto such. In one embodiment, each of the electrodes 402′ and 404′ has awidth of less than or equal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is notlimited to such. It is pointed out that the subsets 502, 504, 506, 508,510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524 and 526 can each be implementedto include the same or different number of sensor elements. For example,subset 502 includes two sensor elements while subsets 504, 506, 508, 510and 512 each include three sensor elements, but are not limited to such.Additionally, subset 526 includes two sensor elements, subsets 516, 518,522 and 524 each includes three sensor elements, while subsets 514 and520 each includes four sensor elements, but are not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 500 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 5. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 500 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 5. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 500 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 600 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 600 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes or wires 602 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the Y-axis) that are substantially parallel and a pluralityof vertical electrodes or wires 604 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. It is pointedout that the electrodes 602 are not electrically connected to electrodes604, and where they cross each other are insulated by a dielectricseparator, but are not limited to such. In one embodiment, theelectrodes 602 are approximately orthogonal (or perpendicular) toelectrodes 604, and vice versa. Note that the electrodes 602 and 604 canbe implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, each of theelectrodes 602 can be formed or manufactured to include one or moredendrites (e.g., 610 and 612). In addition, each of the electrodes 604can be formed or manufactured to include one or more dendrites (e.g.,606 and 608). In this manner, the dendrites 606, 608, 610, and 612 ofthe electrodes 602 and 604 can produce improved capacitive coupling witha user's figure or a probe along with removing optical interferencepatterns. Note that in one embodiment, each of the electrodes 602 and604 can be formed or manufactured from one or more metals, such as,copper, aluminum, chromium, gold, silver, and tin, but is not limited tosuch and may be other conductive materials (e.g., carbon). Furthermore,each of the electrodes 602 and 604 can be formed or manufactured to alsoinclude one or more layers or coatings of light altering material (e.g.,an anti-reflective material or a light absorbing material) in order toreduce the visibility of the electrodes 602 and 604 to a user of thecapacitive touch screen device 100. The anti-reflective material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, the anti-reflectivematerial can include, but is not limited to, a dielectric, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, polymer, glue, and the like. Additionally, thelight absorbing material can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example in one embodiment, the light absorbing material can include,but is not limited to, visible light absorbing photo resist material,metal oxide, or carbon black. In one embodiment, each of the electrodes602 and 604 has a width of less than or equal to approximately 10micrometers, but is not limited to such.

Note that the electrodes 602 are spaced in a substantially uniformmanner, but are not limited to such. Additionally, the electrodes 604are also spaced in a substantially uniform manner, but are not limitedto such. In one embodiment, when the capacitive touch screen device 100that includes the capacitive sensor pattern 600 is placed over or formedonto a display device each of the electrodes 602 and 604 and theirdendrites 606, 608, 610, and 612 can be aligned within or positionedover a gap or mask between pixels of the display device, thereby furtherreducing the visibility of the electrodes 602 and 604 to a user. It isnoted that the electrodes 602 and 604 can be coupled to the controllercircuitry 110 in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,each of the electrodes 602 can be connected independently to thecontroller circuitry 110 via the conductive wires 108, but is notlimited to such. Additionally, in one embodiment, each of the electrodes604 can be connected independently to the controller circuitry 110 viathe conductive wires 106, but is not limited to such. In an embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the electrodes 602 can be coupledtogether in any manner similar to that described herein, but is notlimited to such. Moreover in one embodiment, one or more subsets of theelectrodes 604 can be coupled together in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such. In one embodiment, each ofthe electrodes 602 can be spaced in any periodic or aperiodic mannersimilar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.Furthermore in one embodiment, each of the electrodes 604 can be spacedin any periodic or aperiodic manner similar to that described herein,but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 600 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 6. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 600 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 6. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 600 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 700 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 700 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes or wires 702 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the Y-axis) that are substantially parallel and a pluralityof vertical electrodes or wires 704 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. It is pointedout that the electrodes 702 are not electrically connected to electrodes704, and where they cross each other are insulated by a dielectricseparator, but are not limited to such. In one embodiment, theelectrodes 702 are approximately orthogonal (or perpendicular) toelectrodes 704, and vice versa. Note that the electrodes 702 and 704 canbe implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the electrodes 702 can be coupledtogether. For instance in the present embodiment, the electrodes 702include ten different subsets 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720,722 and 724 of electrodes that are coupled together, but is not limitedto such. Moreover in the present embodiment, each of the subsets 706,708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 and 724 of the electrodes 702 isinterleaved with its neighboring subsets of the electrodes 702. In oneembodiment, the subsets or groups of the electrodes 704 can beinterleaved in a manner similar to the subsets or groups of theelectrodes 702, but is not limited to such. Within the presentembodiment, one or more subsets of the electrodes 704 can be coupledtogether. For example in the present embodiment, the electrodes 704include seven different subsets 726, 728, 730, 732, 734, 736 and 738 ofelectrodes that are coupled together, but is not limited to such.However, within the present embodiment, the different subsets of theelectrodes 704 are not interleaved but may be in an alternateembodiment. It is pointed out that the subsets 706, 708, 710, 712, 714,716, 718, 720, 722, 724, 726, 728, 730, 732, 734, 736 and 738 can eachbe implemented to include the same or different number of sensorelements. For example, subset 706 and 716 each include two sensorelements while subsets 708, 710, 712, 714, 718, 720, 722 and 724 eachincludes four sensor elements, but are not limited to such. In addition,subset 738 includes four sensor elements while subsets 726, 728, 730,732, 734 and 736 each includes three sensor elements, but are notlimited to such.

In one embodiment, each of the electrodes 702 and 704 can be formed ormanufactured from one or more metals, such as, copper, aluminum,chromium, gold, silver, and tin, but is not limited to such and may beother conductive materials (e.g., carbon). Furthermore, each of theelectrodes 702 and 704 can be formed or manufactured to also include oneor more layers or coatings of light altering material (e.g., ananti-reflective material or a light absorbing material) in order toreduce the visibility of the electrodes 702 and 704 to a user of thecapacitive touch screen 100. The anti-reflective material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, the anti-reflectivematerial can include, but is not limited to, a dielectric, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, polymer, glue, and the like. Additionally, thelight absorbing material can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example in one embodiment, the light absorbing material can include,but is not limited to, visible light absorbing photo resist material,metal oxide, or carbon black. In one embodiment, each of the electrodes702 and 704 has a width of less than or equal to approximately 10micrometers, but is not limited to such.

Within FIG. 7, the electrodes 702 are spaced in a substantially uniforminterleaved manner, but are not limited to such. Additionally, theelectrodes 704 are also spaced in a substantially uniform manner, butare not limited to such. In one embodiment, when the capacitive touchscreen device 100 that includes the capacitive sensor pattern 700 isplaced over or formed onto a display device, each of the electrodes 702and 704 can be aligned within or positioned over a gap or mask betweenpixels of the display device, thereby further reducing the visibility ofthe electrodes 702 and 704 to a user. It is noted that the electrodes702 and 704 can be coupled to the controller circuitry 110 in a widevariety of ways. For example in one embodiment, one or more subsets ofthe electrodes 702 can be connected to the controller circuitry 110 viathe conductive wires 108, but is not limited to such. Moreover, one ormore subsets of the electrodes 704 can be connected to the controllercircuitry 110 via the conductive wires 106, but is not limited to such.In one embodiment, each of the electrodes 702 can be spaced in anyperiodic or aperiodic manner similar to that described herein, but isnot limited to such. Furthermore in one embodiment, each of theelectrodes 704 can be spaced in any periodic or aperiodic manner similarto that described herein, but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 700 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 7. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 700 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 7. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 700 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 800 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 800 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes or wires 802 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the Y-axis) that are substantially parallel and a pluralityof vertical electrodes or wires 804 (e.g., which allow sensing ofposition in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. It is pointedout that the electrodes 802 are not electrically connected to electrodes804, and where they cross each other are insulated by a dielectricseparator, but are not limited to such. In one embodiment, theelectrodes 802 are approximately orthogonal (or perpendicular) toelectrodes 804, and vice versa. Note that the electrodes 802 and 804 canbe implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the electrodes 802 can be coupledtogether. For instance in the present embodiment, the electrodes 802include ten different subsets 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818, 820,822 and 824 of electrodes that are coupled together, but is not limitedto such. Moreover in the present embodiment, each of the subsets 806,808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818, 820, 822 and 824 of the electrodes 802 isinterleaved with its neighboring subsets of the electrodes 802. In oneembodiment, the subsets or groups of the electrodes 804 can beinterleaved in a manner similar to the subsets or groups of theelectrodes 802, but is not limited to such. Within the presentembodiment, one or more subsets of the electrodes 804 can be coupledtogether. For example in the present embodiment, the electrodes 804include seven different subsets 826, 828, 830, 832, 834, 836 and 838 ofelectrodes that are coupled together, but is not limited to such.However, within the present embodiment, the different subsets of theelectrodes 804 are not interleaved but may be in an alternateembodiment. It is pointed out that the subsets 806, 808, 810, 812, 814,816, 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, 832, 834, 836 and 838 can eachbe implemented to include the same or different number of sensorelements. For example, subset 806 and 824 each include four sensorelements while subsets 808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818, 820 and 822 eachincludes six sensor elements, but are not limited to such. In addition,subset 838 includes four sensor elements while subsets 826, 828, 830,832, 834 and 836 each includes three sensor elements, but are notlimited to such.

In one embodiment, each of the electrodes 802 and 804 can be formed ormanufactured from one or more metals, such as, copper, aluminum,chromium, gold, silver, and tin, but is not limited to such and may beother conductive materials (e.g., carbon). Furthermore, each of theelectrodes 802 and 804 can be formed or manufactured to also include oneor more layers or coatings of light altering material (e.g., ananti-reflective material or a light absorbing material) in order toreduce the visibility of the electrodes 802 and 804 to a user of thecapacitive touch screen 100. The anti-reflective material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, the anti-reflectivematerial can include, but is not limited to, a dielectric, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, polymer, glue, and the like. Additionally, thelight absorbing material can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example in one embodiment, the light absorbing material can include,but is not limited to, visible light absorbing photo resist material,metal oxide, or carbon black. In one embodiment, each of the electrodes802 and 804 has a width of less than or equal to approximately 10micrometers, but is not limited to such.

Within FIG. 8, the electrodes 802 are spaced in an approximatelyGaussian density distribution, but are not limited to such. Other linearand non-linear density distributions (e.g., Poisson, parabolic,triangular) may also be of benefit to optimal sensing and associatedtouch position resolution. Additionally, the electrodes 804 are alsospaced in a substantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such.In one embodiment, when the capacitive touch screen device 100 thatincludes the capacitive sensor pattern 800 is placed over or formed ontoa display device, each of the electrodes 802 and 804 can be alignedwithin or positioned over a gap or mask between pixels of the displaydevice, thereby further reducing the visibility of the electrodes 802and 804 to a user. It is noted that the electrodes 802 and 804 can becoupled to the controller circuitry 110 in a wide variety of ways. Forexample in one embodiment, one or more subsets of the electrodes 802 canbe connected to the controller circuitry 110 via the conductive wires108, but is not limited to such. Moreover, one or more subsets of theelectrodes 804 can be connected to the controller circuitry 110 via theconductive wires 106, but is not limited to such. In one embodiment,each of the electrodes 802 can be spaced in any periodic or aperiodicmanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.Furthermore in one embodiment, each of the electrodes 804 can be spacedin any periodic or aperiodic manner similar to that described herein,but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 800 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 8. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 800 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 8. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 800 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

Note that while electrodes 702 in FIGS. 7 and 802 in FIG. 8 are shownhaving connections to the associated touch panel 102 from both left andright sides, they are not limited to such. In system or panelconstructions that do not permit the use of vias through the dielectricseparator, the overlap of sensor groups can prevent them from beingconnected together along the same edge of the panel. However, theability to create conductive vias through dielectric layers is quitecommon, and their use would allow all electrode sets (e.g., within thesame axis) to connect through the same edge of the panel. In oneembodiment, where sufficient connection resources are available to routeall of the horizontal electrodes or wires of 702 and 802 to one edge ofthe touch screen substrate 102, these signals may then be joined intotheir respective sensor groups through connections located off of thetouch screen substrate 102.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 900 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 900 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes of substantially transparent conductivematerial 902 (e.g., which allow sensing of position in the Y-axis) thatare substantially parallel and a plurality of vertical metal electrodesor wires 904 (e.g., which allow sensing of position in the X-axis) thatare substantially parallel. It is pointed out that the substantiallytransparent electrodes 902 are not electrically connected to the metalelectrodes 904. In one embodiment, the substantially transparentelectrodes 902 are approximately orthogonal (or perpendicular) toelectrodes 904, and vice versa. Note that the electrodes 902 and 904 canbe implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,one or more subsets (or groups) of the substantially transparentelectrodes 902 can be coupled together in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such. In one embodiment, one ormore subsets (or groups) of the metal electrodes 904 can be coupledtogether in any manner similar to that described herein, but is notlimited to such. It is noted that each of the substantially transparentelectrodes 902 can be formed or manufactured from indium tin oxide(ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), stannous oxide (SnO), carbon nanotubes(CNT), or other substantially transparent conductive material, while theelectrodes 904 can be formed or manufactured from one or more metals,such as, copper, aluminum, chromium, gold, silver, and tin, but is notlimited to such and may be other conductive materials (e.g., carbon).Furthermore, each of the electrodes 904 can be formed or manufactured toalso include one or more layers or coatings of light altering material(e.g., an anti-reflective material or a light absorbing material) inorder to reduce the visibility of the electrodes 904 to a user of thecapacitive touch screen device 100. The anti-reflective material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, the anti-reflectivematerial can include, but is not limited to, a dielectric, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, polymer, glue, and the like. Additionally, thelight absorbing material can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example in one embodiment, the light absorbing material can include,but is not limited to, visible light absorbing photo resist material,metal oxide, or carbon black. In one embodiment, each of the electrodes904 has a width of less than or equal to approximately 10 micrometers,but is not limited to such, while each of the substantially transparentelectrodes 902 can be implemented with any desired width. In anembodiment, it is noted that the substantially transparent electrodes902 can be located or positioned below or beneath the metal conductors904 (e.g., such that the metal conductors 904 are located between theuser and the substantially transparent electrodes 902).

Within FIG. 9, the substantially transparent electrodes 902 are spacedin a substantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such.Additionally, the metal electrodes 904 are also spaced in asubstantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such. In oneembodiment, when the capacitive touch screen device 100 that includesthe capacitive sensor pattern 900 is placed over or formed onto adisplay device, each of the substantially transparent electrodes 902 maybe of such width as to appear to the user to be continuous, wherein thegap 906 between electrodes 902 can be aligned with, within, orpositioned over a gap or mask between pixels of the display device,thereby further reducing the visibility of the electrodes 902 to a user.In one embodiment, each of the gaps 906 has a width of less than orequal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is not limited to such. Inone embodiment, when the capacitive touch screen device 100 thatincludes the capacitive sensor pattern 900 is placed over or formed ontoa display device, each of the electrodes 904 can be aligned within orpositioned over a gap or mask between pixels of the display device,thereby further reducing the visibility of the electrodes 904 to a user.It is noted that the substantially transparent electrodes 902 and themetal electrodes 904 can be coupled to the controller circuitry 110 in awide variety of ways. For example, the substantially transparentelectrodes 902 and the metal electrodes 904 can be coupled to thecontroller circuitry 110 in any manner similar to that described herein,but is not limited to such. In one embodiment, each of the substantiallyparallel electrodes 902 can be spaced in any periodic or aperiodicmanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.Furthermore in one embodiment, each of the electrodes 904 can be spacedin any periodic or aperiodic manner similar to that described herein,but is not limited to such.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 900 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 9. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 900 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 9. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 900 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an exemplary capacitive sensor pattern 1000 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. Specifically, inone embodiment, the capacitive sensor pattern 1000 includes a pluralityof horizontal electrodes of substantially transparent conductivematerial 1002 (e.g., which allow sensing of position in the Y-axis) thatare substantially parallel and a plurality of vertical electrodes ofsubstantially transparent conductive material 1004 (e.g., which allowsensing of position in the X-axis) that are substantially parallel. Itis pointed out that the substantially transparent electrodes 1002 arenot electrically connected to the substantially transparent electrodes1004. In one embodiment, the electrodes 1002 are approximatelyorthogonal (or perpendicular) to electrodes 1004, and vice versa. Notethat the substantially transparent electrodes 1002 and 1004 can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,each of the substantially transparent electrodes 1004 is composed of acontinuous layer of substantially transparent conductive material 1006having varying width. Furthermore, each of the substantially transparentelectrodes 1002 includes a plurality of sections 1008 and metal jumpers1010. In the present embodiment, each of the metal jumpers 1010 canelectrically couple two sections of substantially transparent conductivematerial 1008 as shown. In an alternate embodiment, the metal jumpers1010 may span the width of the sensor elements 1008 and may electricallycouple more than two sections of substantially transparent conductivematerial. One or more subsets (or groups) of the substantiallytransparent electrodes 1002 can be coupled together in any mannersimilar to that described herein, but is not limited to such. In oneembodiment, one or more subsets of the substantially transparentelectrodes 1004 can be coupled together in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such. It is noted that each ofthe electrodes 1004 can be formed or manufactured from substantiallytransparent conductive material 1006 that can include indium tin oxide(ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), stannous oxide (SnO), carbon nanotubes(CNT), or other substantially transparent conductive material, while theelectrodes 1002 can be formed or manufactured from sections 1008 of ITO,ATO, SnO, CNT, or other substantially transparent conductive material,and one or more metal jumpers 1010, but is not limited to such. The oneor more metal jumpers 1010 can be formed or manufactured from one ormore metals, such as, copper, aluminum, chromium, gold, silver, and tin,but is not limited to such and may be other conductive materials (e.g.,carbon). Furthermore, each of the metal jumpers 1010 can be formed ormanufactured to also include one or more layers or coatings of lightaltering material (e.g., an anti-reflective material or a lightabsorbing material) in order to reduce the visibility of the electrodes1004 to a user of the capacitive touch screen device 100. Theanti-reflective material can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example, the anti-reflective material can include, but is notlimited to, a dielectric, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, polymer, glue,and the like. Additionally, the light absorbing material can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,the light absorbing material can include, but is not limited to, visiblelight absorbing photo resist material, metal oxide, or carbon black. Inone embodiment, each of the metal jumpers 1010 has a width of less thanor equal to approximately 10 micrometers, but is not limited to such.

Within FIG. 10, the substantially transparent electrodes 1002 are spacedin a substantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such.Additionally, the substantially transparent electrodes 1004 are alsospaced in a substantially uniform manner, but are not limited to such.In one embodiment, when the capacitive touch screen device 100 thatincludes the capacitive sensor pattern 1000 is placed over or formedupon a display device, each of the metal jumpers 1010 can be alignedwithin or positioned over a gap or mask between pixels of the displaydevice, thereby further reducing the visibility of the metal jumpers1010 to a user. It is noted that the substantially transparentelectrodes 1002 and 1004 can be coupled to the controller circuitry 110in a wide variety of ways. For example, the substantially transparentelectrodes 1002 and 1004 can be coupled to the controller circuitry 110in any manner similar to that described herein, but is not limited tosuch.

It is noted that the capacitive sensor pattern 1000 may not include allof the elements illustrated by FIG. 10. Additionally, the capacitivesensor pattern 1000 can be implemented to include one or more elementsnot illustrated by FIG. 10. It is pointed out that the capacitive sensorpattern 1000 can be utilized or implemented in any manner similar tothat described herein, but is not limited to such.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an example method 1100 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Although specific operations aredisclosed in flow diagram 1100, such operations are examples. Method1100 may not include all of the operations illustrated by FIG. 11. Also,embodiments are well suited to performing various other operations orvariations of the operations recited in flow diagram 1100. Likewise, thesequence of the operations of flow diagram 1100 can be modified. It isappreciated that not all of the operations in flow diagram 1100 may beperformed.

Specifically, method 1100 can include depositing one or more conductivematerial layers onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate. Additionally, one or more light altering material layers canbe deposited onto (or over or above) the one or more conductive materiallayers. The one or more light altering material layers and the one ormore conductive material layers can be patterned or etched to form aplurality of electrodes for use as a capacitive touch screen device.

At operation 1102 of FIG. 11, one or more conductive material layers canbe deposited onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate (e.g., 102 in FIG. 2). It is pointed out that the operation1102 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in oneembodiment, FIG. 11A is an exemplary side sectional view of one or moreconductive material layers 1108 deposited onto (or over or above) thesubstantially transparent substrate 102. In various embodiments, thedepositing of the one or more conductive material layers at operation1102 can be performed using sputter deposition or plating, but is notlimited to such. In addition, in one embodiment, the depositing of theone or more conductive material layers at operation 1102 can includedepositing onto (or over or above) a plastic substrate, a glasssubstrate, or onto (or over or above) a surface of a display itself, butis not limited to such. Note that operation 1102 can be implemented inany manner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1104, one or more light altering material layers can bedeposited onto (or over or above) the one or more conductive materiallayers. It is noted that operation 1104 can be implemented in a widevariety of ways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 11B is an exemplaryside sectional view of one or more light altering material layers 1110deposited onto (or over or above) the one or more conductive materiallayers 1108. In various embodiments, the depositing of the one or morelight altering material layers at operation 1104 can be performed by,but is not limited to, aerosol spray, spin coating, physical vapordeposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or sputterdeposition. It is noted that operation 1104 can be implemented in anymanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1106 of FIG. 11, the one or more light altering materiallayers and the one or more conductive material layers can be patternedand/or etched to form a plurality of electrodes (e.g., similar to any of202, 204, 202′, 204′, 402, 404, 402′, 404′, 602, 604, 702, 704, 802,804, and 904) for use as a capacitive touch screen (e.g., 100). Notethat operation 1106 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. Forexample in one embodiment, FIG. 11C is an exemplary side sectional viewof the one or more light altering material layers 1110 and the one ormore conductive material layers 1108 having been patterned and/or etchedto form a plurality of electrodes 1112. In an embodiment, the etching atoperation 1106 can be performed using wet chemical etching, but is notlimited to such. In addition, the patterning at operation 1106 can beperformed using photolithography or LASER ablation, but is not limitedto such. Operation 1106 can be implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such. At the completion ofoperation 1106, process 1100 can be exited or ended.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an example method 1200 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Although specific operations aredisclosed in flow diagram 1200, such operations are examples. Method1200 may not include all of the operations illustrated by FIG. 12. Also,embodiments are well suited to performing various other operations orvariations of the operations recited in flow diagram 1200. Likewise, thesequence of the operations of flow diagram 1200 can be modified. It isappreciated that not all of the operations in flow diagram 1200 may beperformed.

Specifically, method 1200 can include depositing one or more conductivematerial layers onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate. Furthermore, the one or more conductive material layers canbe patterned or etched to form a plurality of electrodes for use as acapacitive touch screen device. Also, one or more light alteringmaterial layers can be deposited onto (or over or above) the pluralityof electrodes. The one or more light altering material layers can bepatterned or etched.

At operation 1202 of FIG. 12, one or more conductive material layers canbe deposited onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate (e.g., 102). It is pointed out that the operation 1202 can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,FIG. 12A is an exemplary side sectional view of one or more conductivematerial layers 1210 deposited onto (or over or above) the substantiallytransparent substrate 102. It is noted that operation 1202 can beimplemented in any manner similar to that described herein, but is notlimited to such.

At operation 1204, the one or more conductive material layers can bepatterned or etched to form a plurality of electrodes (e.g., similar toany of 202, 204, 202′, 204′, 402, 404, 402′, 404′, 602, 604, 702, 704,802, 804, and 904) for use as a capacitive touch screen (e.g., 100).Note that operation 1204 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.For example in one embodiment, FIG. 12B is an exemplary side sectionalview of the one or more conductive material layers 1210 having beenpatterned or etched to form a plurality of electrodes 1212. Note thatoperation 1204 can be implemented in any manner similar to thatdescribed herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1206 of FIG. 12, one or more light altering material layerscan be deposited onto (or over or above) the plurality of electrodes. Itis noted that operation 1206 can be implemented in a wide variety ofways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 12C is an exemplary sidesectional view of one or more light altering material layers 1214deposited onto (or over or above) the plurality of electrodes 1212. Itis noted that operation 1206 can be implemented in any manner similar tothat described herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1208, the one or more light altering material layers can bepatterned or etched. It is noted that operation 1208 can be implementedin a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 120 is anexemplary side sectional view of the one or more light altering materiallayers 1214 having been patterned or etched. Note that operation 1208can be implemented in any manner similar to that described herein, butis not limited to such. At the completion of operation 1208, process1200 can be exited or ended.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example method 1300 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Although specific operations aredisclosed in flow diagram 1300, such operations are examples. Method1300 may not include all of the operations illustrated by FIG. 13. Also,embodiments are well suited to performing various other operations orvariations of the operations recited in flow diagram 1300. Likewise, thesequence of the operations of flow diagram 1300 can be modified. It isappreciated that not all of the operations in flow diagram 1300 may beperformed.

Specifically, method 1300 can include depositing one or more lightaltering material layers onto (or over or above) a substantiallytransparent substrate. Additionally, one or more conductive materiallayers can be deposited onto (or over or above) the one or more lightaltering material layers. The one or more light altering material layersand the one or more conductive material layers can be patterned and/oretched to form a plurality of electrodes for use as a capacitive touchscreen device.

At operation 1302 of FIG. 13, one or more light altering material layerscan be deposit onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate (e.g., 102). It is pointed out that the operation 1302 can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,FIG. 13A is an exemplary side sectional view of one or more lightaltering material layers 1308 deposited onto (or over or above) thesubstantially transparent substrate 102. It is noted that operation 1302can be implemented in any manner similar to that described herein, butis not limited to such.

At operation 1304, one or more conductive material layers can bedeposited onto (or over or above) the one or more light alteringmaterial layers. It is noted that operation 1304 can be implemented in awide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 13B is anexemplary side sectional view of one or more conductive material layers1310 deposited onto (or over or above) the one or more light alteringmaterial layers 1308. Note that operation 1304 can be implemented in anymanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1306 of FIG. 13, the one or more light altering materiallayers and the one or more conductive material layers can be patternedand/or etched to form a plurality of electrodes (e.g., similar to any of202, 204, 202′, 204′, 402, 404, 402′, 404′, 602, 604, 702, 704, 802,804, and 904) for use as a capacitive touch screen (e.g., 100). Notethat operation 1306 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. Forexample in one embodiment, FIG. 13C is an exemplary side sectional viewof the one or more light altering material layers 1308 and the one ormore conductive material layers 1310 having been patterned and/or etchedto form a plurality of electrodes 1312. It is noted that operation 1306can be implemented in any manner similar to that described herein, butis not limited to such. At the completion of operation 1306, process1300 can be exited or ended.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an example method 1400 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Although specific operations aredisclosed in flow diagram 1400, such operations are examples. Method1400 may not include all of the operations illustrated by FIG. 14. Also,embodiments are well suited to performing various other operations orvariations of the operations recited in flow diagram 1400. Likewise, thesequence of the operations of flow diagram 1400 can be modified. It isappreciated that not all of the operations in flow diagram 1400 may beperformed.

Specifically, method 1400 can include depositing one or more lightaltering material layers onto (or over or above) a substantiallytransparent substrate. In addition, the one or more light alteringmaterial layers can be patterned or etched to form a plurality of lines.Furthermore, one or more conductive material layers can be depositedonto (or over or above) the plurality of lines. The one or moreconductive material layers can be patterned or etched to form aplurality of electrodes for use as a capacitive touch screen device.

At operation 1402 of FIG. 14, one or more light altering material layerscan be deposit onto (or over or above) a substantially transparentsubstrate (e.g., 102). It is pointed out that the operation 1402 can beimplemented in a wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment,FIG. 14A is an exemplary side sectional view of one or more lightaltering material layers 1410 deposited onto (or over or above) thesubstantially transparent substrate 102. It is noted that operation 1402can be implemented in any manner similar to that described herein, butis not limited to such.

At operation 1404, the one or more light altering material layers can bepatterned or etched to form a plurality of lines (e.g., similar to anyof electrodes 202, 204, 202′, 204′, 402, 404, 402′, 404′, 602, 604, 702,704, 802, 804, and 904). Note that operation 1404 can be implemented ina wide variety of ways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 14B is anexemplary side sectional view of the one or more light altering materiallayers 1410 having been patterned or etched to form a plurality ofelectrodes 1412. Note that operation 1404 can be implemented in anymanner similar to that described herein, but is not limited to such.

At operation 1406 of FIG. 14, one or more conductive material layers canbe deposited onto (or over or above) the plurality of lines. It is notedthat operation 1406 can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. Forexample in one embodiment, FIG. 14C is an exemplary side sectional viewof one or more conductive material layers 1414 deposited onto (or overor above) the plurality of lines 1412. It is noted that operation 1406can be implemented in any manner similar to that described herein, butis not limited to such.

At operation 1408, the one or more conductive material layers can bepatterned or etched to form a plurality of electrodes (e.g., similar toany of 202, 204, 202′, 204′, 402, 404, 402′, 404′, 602, 604, 702, 704,802, 804, and 904) for use as a capacitive touch screen device (e.g.,100). It is noted that operation 1408 can be implemented in a widevariety of ways. For example in one embodiment, FIG. 14D is an exemplaryside sectional view of the one or more conductive material layers 1414having been patterned or etched to form a plurality of electrodes 1416.Note that operation 1408 can be implemented in any manner similar tothat described herein, but is not limited to such. At the completion ofoperation 1408, process 1400 can be exited or ended.

The foregoing descriptions of various specific embodiments in accordancewith the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teaching. The invention isto be construed according to the Claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A capacitive touch screen comprising: a displaydevice comprising a functional display element attached to asubstantially transparent substrate; a first plurality of electrodesattached to the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the firstplurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in a first directionand are aperiodically spaced from each other; and a second plurality ofelectrodes, wherein each of the second plurality of electrodes crosseseach of the plurality of first electrodes and each of the secondplurality of electrodes is configured to capacitively couple with eachof the first plurality of electrodes.
 2. The capacitive touch screen ofclaim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrodes are aperiodicallyspaced from each other.
 3. The capacitive touch screen of claim 1,wherein the first plurality of electrodes is attached to a first side ofthe substantially transparent substrate opposite a second side of thesubstantially transparent substrate on which the functional displayelement is attached.
 4. The capacitive touch screen of claim 1, whereineach of the first plurality of electrodes is made from a substantiallytransparent conductive material.
 5. The capacitive touch screen of claim1, wherein the second plurality of electrodes is attached to the sameside of the substantially transparent substrate as the first pluralityof electrodes.
 6. The capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein eachof the second plurality of electrodes is substantially perpendicular toeach of the first plurality of electrodes.
 7. A capacitive touch screencomprising: a display device; a functional display element attached to asubstantially transparent substrate overlaying a viewable area of thedisplay device; a first plurality of electrodes attached to a side ofthe substantially transparent substrate opposite the display device,wherein the plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in afirst direction and are aperiodically spaced from each other; and asecond plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the electrodes of thesecond plurality of electrodes crosses each of the electrodes of thefirst plurality of electrodes and each of the electrodes of the secondplurality of electrodes is configured to capacitively couple with eachelectrode of the first plurality of electrodes.
 8. The capacitive touchscreen of claim 7, wherein the second plurality of electrodes areaperiodically spaced from each other.
 9. The capacitive touch screen ofclaim 7, wherein the first plurality of electrodes is attached to afirst side of the substantially transparent substrate opposite a secondside of the substantially transparent substrate on which the functionaldisplay element is attached.
 10. The capacitive touch screen of claim 7,wherein each of the first plurality of electrodes is made from asubstantially transparent conductive material.
 11. The capacitive touchscreen of claim 7, wherein the second plurality of electrodes isattached to the same side of the substantially transparent substrate asthe first plurality of electrodes.
 12. The capacitive touch screen ofclaim 7, wherein each electrode of the second plurality of electrodes issubstantially perpendicular to each electrode of the first plurality ofelectrodes.
 13. A method of forming a capacitive touch screen,comprising: depositing a first conductive material layer over asubstantially transparent substrate of a display device, wherein afunctional display element is attached to at least one side of thesubstantially transparent substrate; patterning the first conductivematerial layer to form a first plurality of electrodes, wherein thefirst plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel and areaperiodically spaced from each other; and constructing a secondplurality of electrodes coupled with the display device, wherein eachelectrode of the second plurality of electrodes crosses each electrodeof the plurality of first electrodes and each electrode of the secondplurality of electrodes is configured to capacitively couple with eachelectrode of the first plurality of electrodes.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the second plurality of electrodes are aperiodically spacedfrom each other.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first pluralityof electrodes is attached to a first side of the substantiallytransparent substrate opposite a second side of the substantiallytransparent substrate on which the functional display element isattached.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the firstplurality of electrodes is made from a substantially transparentconductive material.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the secondplurality of electrodes is attached to the same side of thesubstantially transparent substrate as the first plurality ofelectrodes.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the secondplurality of electrodes is substantially perpendicular to each of thefirst plurality of electrodes.
 19. The method of claim 13, whereinconstructing the second plurality of electrodes comprises depositing asecond conductive material layer over the first plurality of electrodes.20. The method of claim 13 further comprising, between depositing thefirst conductive material layer and constructing the second plurality ofelectrodes, depositing a dielectric material over the first plurality ofelectrodes.